Air conditioning system



April 16, 1940. A. Y. DODGE 2,197,492

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J 1 JO n /44 x z Fig, l K

INVENTOR.

ADI/5L 2 D 0065 -April 16, 1940. A. Y. DODGE 2,197,492

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FiledAug. 16, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.AD/EL' Y 00065 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 16, 1940 1 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2,197,492 AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Adiel Y. Dodge, South Bend,Ind. Application August 16, 1937, Serial No. 159,310 6 Claims. (01.62-136) This invention relates to air conditioning systems and moreparticularly to systems for cooling and dehumidifying the air in anenclosure without the use of a separate refrigerant.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and compactsystem in which air is first compressed, then cooled and finallygradually expanded. As a result of this cycle the temperature will bematerially reduced and it will give up moisture to lower its humidity.

Another object of the invention relates to washing and precooling theair prior to compression thereof.

Another object is to provide an air conditioning system in which anyentrained water or other particles are removed from the air prior to itsdischarge.

Other objects and advantages of the invention including novelsubcombinations and particular constructions will be apparent from thefollowing description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view with parts in section of a systemembodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on line III[ of Figure 3 of amodified compressor and expander unit for use in the system of Figure 1;

and

Figures 3 and 4 are sections on the lines III-III and IV-IV respectivelyof Figure 2.

The invention is particularly adapted to condition the air in homes,oflices, stores and other rooms or enclosures intended for humanoccupancy. For purposes of brevity of description it. is intended thatthe terms enclosure, "room or dwelling room as used hereinafter shallbeinterpreted to include all such enclosures.

The system as illustrated in Figure 1 includes a compressor and expanderunit of the type shown in my copending application Serial No. 752,042including a'casing Ill formed with a pair of diametrically opposed lobesl2 and I4 connected by portions of reduced radius. A rotor l6 having aseries of radial vanes 18 is centrally mounted in the casing with thetips of its vanes spaced from the walls of the lobes but closelyapproaching the connecting portions.

The lobe I2 is provided with an air inlet 20 leading from a tank 22which is adapted to contain a body of water or the like. An air inletpipe 24 leads into the lower part of the tank 22 below a screen 26 andis provided with a plurality of air inlet openings below the surface ofthe water.

Anairoutlet 28 from the-lobe I2 leads to a cooling tank 30 whichcontains a coil 32 for circulation of water or the like to cool air inthe tank. Air is discharged from the tank through a pipe 34 forminganair inlet for the lobe I4. Water condensed from the air in the tank 30collects in the lower part thereof and is discharged past a floatoperated valve 36 to .a suitable drain 38.-

The lobe l4 is provided with an air outlet pipe 40 extending verticallydownward into a separator housing 42 and terminating in a discharge head44 having a series of spiral outlet openings. Thus the air will be givena circular motion and any entrained water or. other particles will bethrown out'against the sides of the housing 42 and will collect in thebottom thereof tobe discharged through a drain 46 under the control of afloat valve 48. The washed, cooled and dried air is discharged through apipe 50 to the enclosure to be conditioned.

In use the tank 22 is filled with water to approximately the levelindicated and the casing I0 is partially filled with water. The rotor I6is driven in a clockwise direction by any suitable power source, notshown, such as an electric motor, and causes the water in the casing IDto swirl around in the casing to form a layer of water sealing the endsof the blades Hi. It will be noted that the spaces between the blades inthe lobe [2 decrease in'size from the inlet to the outlet so that airwill be compressed and that the similar spaces in the lobe l4 increasein size from the inlet to the outlet so that the air may expand.

- Operation of the rotor draws air into the pipe 24 to bubble up throughthe water in the tank 22 and through the screen 26. This washes the airand effects a preliminary cooling thereof, the washed air passingthrough the pipe 2|] into the lobe l2 where it is compressed. As the airis compressed its temperature rises and the hot compressed air isconducted through pipe 28 to the cooler 3|] where it is cooled bycontact with the coil 32. Moisture condensed from the air is dischargedthrough the drain 38 and the cool compressed air passes through the pipe34 into the lobe 14. In its flow through this lobe the air expands,giving up energy to the rotor to assist in driving it. This featurecontributes to the economy of operation of the system and at the sametime provides work for the air to do while expanding to increase thecooling effect.

The cold expanded air is led from the lobe [4 through pipe 40 into thesepautor 42 which removes therefrom any water particles or other foreignmaterial and the washed, cooled and'dried air is discharged to theenclosure through pipe 50. It will be apparent that if desired air fromthe enclosure could be recirculated through the pipe 24 or that amixture of fresh air and air from the enclosure could be circulated.

It will be noted that the outlet port in the expansion lobe I4 isarranged beyond the center of the lobe so as not to communicate with thechamber of largest capacity. This arrangement provides for a momentaryexpansion of the air greater than the final expansion, which momentaryexpansion may be to a pressure less than atmospheric if desired. Duringthis short interval' of maximum expansion the temperature of the air mayfall to a degree considerably below the freezing point of water but thewater will not be frozen due to the short interval of time the minimumtemperature is maintained. However, the time interval will be longenough to reduce the humidity of the air to saturation at the minimumtemperature so that upon again raising the temperature of the air itshumidity will be decreased. Immediately following the point ofmaximumexpansion the air is recompressed slightly to bring its pressureto atmospheric or slightly above and to raise its temperature toapproximately the freezing point of water. In this' conditon the air isdischarged through the outlet pipe 40.

Figure 2 illustrates a modified compressor and expander unit including acylindrical casing 52 divided substantially centrally of its length by apartition 54. A shaft 58 is journaled in the casing and extendslongitudinally therethrough eccentric to the casing axis. A set ofcompressor blades 58 are carried by the shaft.

on one side of the partition 54 and a similar set of expander blades areraised by the shaft on the other side of the axis.

Suitable inlet and outlet pipes are connected to the ends of the casingand for the sake of convenience these pipes have been given the samereference characters primed as the corresponding pipes in Figure 1.

In this construction the washing device 22 of Figure 1 may be replacedby a water nozzle 2| discharging into the flared open end of the inletpipe 20' to form an injector. The water discharged into the injectorserves to wash the air, to compress it partially thereby raising thevolumetric efficiency of the compressor, and to provide circulation ofwater through the apparatus.

Since it is undesirable to discharge air ata very low temperature into aroom and since it is desirable to circulate large quantities of air, theoutlet pipe 40 may have a reduced portion 4| discharging into an openflared portion 43 to form an air operated injector. Uncooled air pickedup by the injector increases the temperature of the discharged air tothe desired degree and at the same time increases the volume of airbeing circulated. charge into a suitable separator such as 42 inFigure 1. If desired the injectors 20, 2| and 4|, 43 may be connected tothe space to be cooled to receive air therefrom.

In operationthe casing 52 is partially filled with liquid which'isswirled as the shaft 58 is rotated to seal the endsof the blades 58 and60. Air will be drawn in through the pipe 20', being precompressed bythe injector 2| and will be further compressed between the blades 58 andforced out through the pipe 28'. The com- The injector may dis-' pressedair is run through a cooler such as 30 of Figure l and is returnedthrough the pipe 34 to expand between the blades 60, energy given up bythe expanding air acting on the blades 60 to assist in driving the shaft5'6. The expanded air is discharged. through the pipe- 40' and theinjector 4|, 43 to a suitable separator and then to the space beingconditioned.

Figures 2' and 3 illustrate a novel control arrangement including asylphon 62 connected to the casing 52 and operating a control lever 64which may control a suitable two way electric switch 66. The pressureexerted on the sylphon by liquid rotating in the casing is a function ofthe speed of the liquid which, in turn, depends on the speed of theshaft 56. The switch 66 may control the windings of an electric motordriving the shaft 56'so that below a certain speed the switch 66 will bein position to connect the starting winding of the motor in circuitwhile above that speed the sylphon 62 will change it to include therunning winding. It will be apparent that other modes of control mightbe employed and that this arrangement could be used equally well withthe unit of Figure 1.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described indetail it will be understood that changes might be made therein and itis not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the form shownnor otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An air conditioning system comprising a cylindrical casing having atransverse partition therein dividing it into a compressor chamber andan expander chamber, a shaft extending through said casing parallel tobut offset from the axis thereof, bladed rotors carried by said shaft inthe compressor and expander chambers, inlet and outlet ports in the endsof said casing communicating with the chambers respectively, aconnection from the outlet port of one chamber to the inlet port of theother and a cooling device in said connection.

2. Air conditioning means comprising a water sealed compressor forcompressing air to be cooled, a water operated injector for supplyingair and sealing water to said compressor, means for cooling thecompressed air and means for expanding the cooled compressed air and forcausing it to do work during expansion. v

3. Air conditioning means comprising a water sealed compressor forcompressing air to be cooled, awater operated injector for supplying airand sealing water to said compressor, means for cooling the compressedair, means for expanding the cooled compressed air and for caus- I ingit to do work during expansion, .and injector means connected to saidexpanding means to mix air discharged therefrom with uncooled air.

4. Air conditioning means comprising a water sealed compressor forcompressing air to be cooled, means for mixing air and water and forsupplying the mixture to said compressor, means for cooling thecompressed air, and means for expanding the cooled compressed air andfor causing it to do work during expansion.

5. Air conditioning means comprising a casing having a transversepartition therein dividing it into a compressor chamber and an expanderchamber, a shaft extending through said'chambers, bladed rotors carriedby the shaft in said chambers, said casing containing a liquid to sealthe bladed rotors and being formed with inlet and outlet portscommunicating with said chambers respectively, and means connecting theoutin said chambers, means to conduct mixed air let port or thecompressor chamber to the inlet and liquid into the compressor chamber,said port of the expander chamber. liquid serving to seal the bladedrotors, means 6. An air conditioning means comprising a. to conductcompressed air from the compressor 6 casing having a transversepartition therein chamber to the expander chamber, and means 5 dividingit into a compressor chamber and an to discharge expanded air from theexpander expander chamber, a shaft extending through chamber. saidchambers, bladed rotors carried by the shaft ADIEL Y. DODGE;

